Gyroscopic and other rotors



March 11 19240 1,486,26l

l C. L. NORDEN GYRoscoPlc AND OTHER Ro'roR Fil Nov. 24 1916 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l.

i NVENTOVR March H 1924.

C. L. NORDEN GYRoscoPIc AND OTHER ROTOR e ild w a. y

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS r l E WMM/WMM siderable complication. My improvement af fords quick, eihcient, safe, and inexpensive means for braking such rotors.

ln the drawings which form part of this specification, l have shown, and will new proceed to describe, my invention as applied to a gyroscopic rotor in its preferred form, although my invention is not limited to such rotors or to the particular en'lbodiment of the gyroscopic rotor herein show and described.

Referring new to this specific embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings,

Figure l is a central vertical section through a partof a gyroscopic rotor embodying my invention, Unowing a form of my invention in which the casing is mounted and is free to rotate independently of the rotor;

Figure 2 is a similar view through a modification, in which the casing and the rotor are geared together;

Figure 3 is an end view of the part shown in Figure 2;

Figure t is a vertical. section through a rotor, showing the Vcasing and the rotor shaft geared to each other, with means for reversingthe direction of rotation of the casing;

Figure 5 is a detail section through a differential gearing connection between the casing and the rotor shaft for permitting the casing` to rotate in either direction.

Referring now particularly to the apparatus shown in Figure l, l is the rotor, fixed on shaft 2. Only a part of this shaft is shown. The remainder and Vother parts of the apparatus, being of well-known conw struction, are omitted for sake of clearness 4c is a fixed frame or structure, carrying the bearings for the rotor shaft and other parts of the apparatus. This frame is mounted in bearings secured to the vesselrto be stabilized. 3 is a casing surrounding the rotor l and mounted concentrically with it on ball bearings 6, 6. This casing, shown, con sists of a light cylindrical drum composed of side pieces 5, 5, and al cylindrical end piece 5a, securely fastened together, and hubs 7. 5b are bands surrounding the drum to strengthen and hold it together. The side plates are secured to the cylindrical hubs 7, which are the parts of the casing which turn on ball hearings G. Casing 3 is Vmounted concentrically with rotor l, but is free to rotate. independently of it.

In operation, the rapid rotation of rotor l causes a negative friction torque to be exerted upon the rotor by the air vIilling the space between the rotor and the casing.,I which causes a power loss due to the fluid friction of the air. A substantially equal. torque is exerted by this air layer on the casing, tending to rotate it in the same direction as the rotor. As the casing is allowed to rotate,v this torque will be proportional ifieaaeiL to the relative velocity between the surfaces of the rotor and the inner surface of the casing, or, in other words, to the relative speed of these two elements. The casing will tend to increase its rotation to a speed at which the positive torque it receives from the rotor through the air layer between them equals the negative torque exerted upon itV through external fluid friction and through bearing friction. lt will then maintain this equilibrium,velocity. The rotation of the casing 3 very materially reduces the fluid friction upon the rotor and very materially decreases the windage losses due to fluid friction which would otherwise occur were the rotating casing not present and were the rotor instead revolving inside of a stationary casing. The saving in this windage loss is capable of substantially mathen'iatical computation. For my present purpose, Yit

is sufficient to say that the saving in horsepower due to the reduction in fluid friction on the rotor is very material. For example, I have found that, by the use of my improvement, a saving of sixty per cent would be realized in the case of a gyroscopic rotor revolving with a peripheral speed of thirty thousand feet per minute.

ln otherl words, if the losses from fluid friction exerted upon the rotor under these conditions with a stationary casingl wercconsidered as one hundred per cent, the

losses under'the same conditions with my rotatable casing in place of the stationary casing would be only forty per cent.

It will be noted that the rotation ,of the casing in Figure l has varied the Huid friction on the rotor by materially decreasing it, effecting large saving in energy, which would otherwise be lost. It will also be noted that the casing in Figure l is mounted independently of theV shaft, and is free to rotate at any speed established by the laws of equilibrium.

ln Figures 2 and 3, l have shown my improved device with the casing geared to the rotor shaft. In this case, there are conne-c-V tions between the rotor shaftV and the casing, causing theV rotor and theV casing to rotate any desired ratio of speed. Here shaft 2 carries teeth 2a, which engage small pinions 8, each revolving on a pin 9, fixed to casing 3. The pinions also engage a rack l0, fixed to frame t. rltlhis is a planetary gear drive, the casing 3 Abeing rotated from shaft 2 through pinions 8. which easing 3 will be rotated will depend, of course, upon the ratio of the gears. As here shown, the speed would be less than one-half of the speed of shaft 2. The ef- .125

feet of thiscoupling is to return valuable casing torque to the rotor, the coupling being such that the casing is compelled to royI tate at a speed materially less than that which it would attain when not coupled.

The speed at Y in that case, the coupling transmits to the rotor casing torque which Would either have to be destroyed by braking or Would further accelerate the casing, if the latter were free. lt is thus possible to obtain a comparatively large reduction in fluid friction With conservative or loiv'casing speeds.

Referring to 'the saine example of a rotor revolving With a peripheral speed of thirty thousand feet `per minute and employing a geared casing running at one-fifth of the speed of the rotor. the saving; in energy Would forty-eight per cent, as against thirty-four per cent for the free casing running the sanne speed, or a saving over the latter case of thirty-Live per cent.

ln lligures 4.-. and 5, l have shown .iny irnproved cevicc with incans for changing the speed ofy rotation of the casing relative to that of the rotor, and particularly for decreasing the speed of the casing and for reversingy its direction of rotation relative to that of the rotor, for the purposes of braking the rotor.

ln Figure 4, the casing 3 runs on ball bearings 6 at its upper end and on the outer set of double ball bearing-s 12 on shaft 1. rllhe friction of the double ball bearings is about equal, the niornent of one about overcoming that of the other. Pins 9, carrying gears 8, are secured in the intermediate raceway 13, in contact with both ball bearings 12, 12. Rack 10 is, in this case, bolted to hub 7 of casing 3. Pins 9 carry a brake flange 141-, with which brake bars 15, secured to frarne- Work 1, are adapted to cooperate. Pinions 8 rnesh with gear 2a on shaft l and With rack 10.

ln the ordinary operation of the apparatus of Figure il, the rotation of shaft 1 through gear 2a carries foinious 8, pins 9 and raceWay 13 and casing 3 in the saine direction until an equilibrium of sneed of rotation of these parts is obtained, as above described. The operation, so far, is exactly like that of the apparatus of Figure 1. lf it is desired to reduce the speed of the rotor, or to brake it, brake bars 15 are pressed against brake flange lll. This Will slow down the brake flange, pins 9 and raceway 13, and cause an increased rotation of pinions 8. rThis Will reduce the speed of rotation of casing 3, and Will bring it to a stop and rotate it in the opposite direction. rllhe fluid friction torque exerted on the rotor by this slower rotation oi'' casing 3, and especially by its rotation in the reverse direction. Will exert a powerful fluid friction upon rotor 1, and form an effective fluid brake.

ln Figure 5., l: have shown a somewhat different arrangement of parts for accomplishing this saine purpose. Here shaft 2 carries a gear 16, meshingI with gear 17, fast on shaft 18. Gear 19 loose on shaft 18. This gear carries beveled gear 20. A similar bevbralre ring;` 22 an freelv rotate on shaft lo e J A pinions 2t being loose on cross shaft 27. is a clutch cone compelled to rotate Witl t free to slide coanially on @one Q1 the conishaft 18, bu. by ineans of hey and slot 28, 29. is lightlj.T pressed iring S0 in""^ cal seat of bralre -ing @rdi 1 casing 3 is geared to sh 1 through gears 1S, 1?, shaft 18, beveled gears 20, 19, racl 10 on c e 8, so that casing 3 rotates in. the sa ic ion with the rotor sh aft. is soon as a; .ning inornent is anplied 29 the clutch cone ivili slip pinions 26 will revolve. The direction of rotation of the casinor niay be completely reversed.

ln the r aivingjs, l have shown the rotor and the casing so connected that the rotor and the casing rotate at any desired ratio of sneed by ineans of gears. lt Will be understood that the connections between the rotor he casing are not liinitod to these, butI be any suitable connections, whether hydraulic, or electric, or other suitable connections, and that e ratio of such connections or coupling; may be varied any suitable inanner.

ln the drawings, lhave shown only one rotatable casing', but roy invention is not limited to the use of one casing. l plurality or rotatable casinos could be employed, all of there .mounted concentrically with the rotor. A. greater saving in Windage can be effected a plurality of such casings than by a single casing. Thus, very large rotors, running at a very high peripheral velocity, should be foro-vided with several concentric casings, and, by ineans of these, the total Windage loss can be reduced to less than oneiifth of what it Would be with a rotor revolving Within a single fixed casing.

Many other changes and modifications than those herein specifically recited can be made from the apparatus shown in the drawings Without departing from my invention.

lVhat l clairn as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination of a rotor, a surroundinfr casing concentrically mounted with the rotor. connections between the rotor and the casing` adapted to control the ratio of speed and the direction of rotation between them, whereby the fluid friction of the rotor may be controlled.

2. The combination of a rotor. a surroundino; casing concentrically mounted with the rotor, connections between the rotor and the casing to cause the latter to rotate With the former, and means for reversing the direction of rotation of the casing, whereby the fluid friction upon the rotor may be varied by the rotation of the casing.

3. rllhe combination of a rotor, a surrounding casing concentrically mounted. with the rotor` connections between the rotor and the casing' to cause the latter to rotate With the former, and means for braking the casing, whereby a braking fluid torque Will be applied to the rotor.

4f. rihe combination of a rotor, a rotatable surrounding casing so mounted and arranged with reference to the rotor that the rotation oi the casing` will vary the fluid 'friction upon the rotor, and means for braking the casing and thereby increasing the fluid friction of the rotor for bra-king purposes. v

5. The combination of arotor7 a casing adapted to revolve coaxially With the rotor, and means to couple the casing. the rotor and a non-rotating frame at a definite ratio, causing the casingl to rotate in any desired direction relative to the direction of rotation of the rotor to varyy the energy losses caused by fluid friction. v

6. The combination of a gyroscopie rotor mounted on bearings in a frame, capable of tilting or precessing7 a casing also mounted in said frame and adapted to rotate concentric With the rotor in either direction, and means to couple both rotor and casing to said frame at a definite ratio to decrease fluid friction losses and increase the gyroscopic efiect or to increase fluid frictionY losses and decrease the gyroscopic effect of the gyroscopic apparatus.

insegni 7. The combination of a gyroscopic rotor fixed upon a shaft, acasingadapted to revolve on the rotor sha-ft co-aXially with the rotor and precessing with the rotor, means to secure a definite ratio of rotation between rotor and casing, to decrease'the fluid friction energy losses of the rotor, and means for braking the casing and thereby increasing the fluid friction of the rotor for braking purposes.

8. rihe combination ot a rotor, a casing, anapted to revolve coaxiaily with the rotor, and means to couple the casing and the rotor at a definite ratio, causing the casing to rotate in any desired direction relative to the direction of rotation of the rotor to vary the energy losses caused by fluid friction.

9. The combination of a gyroscopic rotor mounted on bearings in a frame, capable of tilting` or precessing, a casing also mount ed in said 'frame and adapted to rotate cOncentric With the rotoi` in either direction, and means to couple both rotor and casing at a denite ratio to decrease fluid friction losses and increase the gyroscopic eiiect or to increase fluid friction losses and decrease the zQ'yroscopic eflect of the gyroscopic aprparatus.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name tov this specification.

CARL L. lNORDEN. 

